Abnormal/Problematic Behavior

Stereotypies and other abnormal repetitive behaviors: Potential impact on validity, reliability, and replicability of scientific outcomes

Normal behavior plays a key role in facilitating homeostasis, especially by allowing the animal to control and modify its environment. Captive environments may interfere with these behavioral responses, and the resulting stress may alter many physiological parameters. Abnormal behaviors indicate...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Garner, J. P. 2005. Stereotypies and other abnormal repetitive behaviors: Potential impact on validity, reliability, and replicability of scientific outcomes. ILAR Journal 46(2), 106-117.

The Welfare of Cats

This book covers the major issues affecting the welfare of domestic cats. It covers recent developments in our understanding of cat behaviour, considers the ways in which cat welfare is assessed, and addresses the successes and failures of the relationship...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Rochlitz, I. (Ed.) 2007. The Welfare of Cats. Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 283 pp.

The effects of fluoxetine and buspirone on self-injurious and stereotypic behavior in adult male rhesus macaques

Fluoxetine and buspirone were significantly effective in reducing rates of self-biting during treatment weeks 1 to 8 and self-directed stereotypic behavior during weeks 5 to 12 and post-treatment. No significant effect of either treatment on hair-plucking, stereotypic pacing, saluting, or...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Fontenot, M. B., Padgett, E. E., Dupuy, A. M. et al. 2005. The effects of fluoxetine and buspirone on self-injurious and stereotypic behavior in adult male rhesus macaques. Comparative Medicine 55(1), 67-74.

The efficacy of diazepam treatment for the management of acute wounding episodes in captive rhesus macaques

This study examined the effects of diazepam (Valium) on self-wounding and other abnormal behaviors in eight individually housed male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Each monkey's response to an anxiolytic dose of diazepam (1 mg/kg or greater orally) was compared with...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Tiefenbacher, S., Fahey, M. A., Rowlett, J. K. et al. 2005. The efficacy of diazepam treatment for the management of acute wounding episodes in captive rhesus macaques. Comparative Medicine 55(4), 387-392.

Use of low-dose chlorpromazine in conjunction with environmental enrichment to eliminate self-injurious behavior in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

A 7-year-old, captive-bred, female rhesus macaque was placed in a quarantine facility upon arrival at our institution. At release from quarantine, she was observed pawing at and chewing on her left cheek. ... SIB in this animals seemed likely in...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Taylor, D. K., Bass, T., Flory, G. S. et al. 2005. Use of low-dose chlorpromazine in conjunction with environmental enrichment to eliminate self-injurious behavior in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Comparative Medicine 55(3), 282-288.

Diazepam is more effective than midazolam when used as an aid in chair training non-human primates

Non-human primates (NHPs) are utilized frequently in biomedical research and can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle. Because of this, restraint is sometimes necessary for data collection. Restraint chair training is generally a straightforward process, however, not all animals...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Animal Training, RestraintAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Skoumbourdis, E. K., Potratz, K. 2005. Diazepam is more effective than midazolam when used as an aid in chair training non-human primates. American Journal of Primatology 66(S1), 164. (28th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #176)

Psychopathology in great apes: concepts, treatment options and possible homologies to human psychiatric disorders

Many captive great apes show gross behavioral abnormalities such as stereotypies, self-mutilation, inappropriate aggression, fear or withdrawal, which impede attempts to integrate these animals in existing or new social groups. These abnormal behaviors resemble symptoms associated with psychiatric disorders in...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bruene, M., Bruene-Cohrs, U., McGrew, W. C. et al. 2006. Psychopathology in great apes: concepts, treatment options and possible homologies to human psychiatric disorders. Neuroscience Biobehavioral Reviews 30, 1246-1259.

Spontaneous stereotypy and environmental enrichment in deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus): Reversibility of experience

Spontaneous and persistent stereotypies exhibited by deer mice appear to be prevented by post-weaning rearing in a larger, more complex environment. We sought to determine: (1) if exposure to an enriched environment later in development would still be efficacious in...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Hadley, C., Hadley, B., Ephraima, S. et al. 2006. Spontaneous stereotypy and environmental enrichment in deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus): Reversibility of experience. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 97, 312-322.

Effects of humidity and environmental enrichment on food-chewing behavior in mice

Neither of the enrichment tools (Gumabones or a cellulose/corncob mixture) improved food-chewing behavior. As the humidity decreased over the 3-wk period, so did the abnormal behavior, regardless of the enrichment status of the cage.

Year Published: 2006Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Nelson, C., Dysko, R. 2006. Effects of humidity and environmental enrichment on food-chewing behavior in mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 154 (Abstract).

Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: what’s been done and where should we go next?

The zoo scientific community was among the first to focus attention on captivity-induced stereotypic behaviors, their causes, and methods of eradication. Environmental enrichment has emerged recently as the main husbandry tool for tackling this problem. An increasing number of research...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Swaisgood, R. R., Shepherdson, D. J. 2006. Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: what's been done and where should we go next? Zoo Biology 24, 499-518.